Fluoride to be reintroduced in Calgary water starting next month

Fluoride will be reintroduced in Calgary's drinking water starting June 30, about 3½ years after Calgarians voted in favour of fluoridation in the October 2021 municipal election.

The fluoridation process will supplement the natural fluoride in the Bow and Elbow Rivers, bringing it to "the optimal level of 0.7 milligrams per litre," the city said in a release.

That's the fluoride level recommended by Health Canada's guidance for community water fluoridation. Health Canada is one of over 90 national and international governments and health organizations that endorse the fluoridation of drinking water.

Fluoride supports oral health by replenishing minerals like calcium and phosphate on the surface of teeth, making enamel stronger and more resistant to acid, bacteria and tooth decay.

The University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine conducted research on the subject in 2021. It found that among Grade 2 students in Calgary and Edmonton, children in Calgary were more likely to have cavities than those living in Edmonton, where water has been fluoridated since 1967.

"Fluoridation benefits the community, especially those most vulnerable and without access to dental care," said the city.

Fluoride has no effect on the taste, smell or appearance of drinking water.

Plan years in the making

The 2021 civic election included a referendum on fluoridation, and 62 per cent of those who voted expressed support for fluoride to be reintroduced to the city's drinking water.

The city's newly elected council voted in favour of it the month after the election.

Calgary's water supply was first fluoridated in 1991, with fluoride being added to the city's drinking water for three decades before council voted to end the process in 2011, the year the city's existing fluoridation infrastructure reached the end of its lifecycle.

The 2021 decision resulted in upgrades to the city's infrastructure beginning in 2023, nearly two years after the motion was passed, before being postponed to 2024 and then postponed to this year.

Those upgrades, including installation of new fluoride equipment at the Glenmore and Bearspaw water treatment plants, came with a $28.1-million price tag — and annual costs of $1 million.

"This translates into less than 10 cents per person, per month. This is already funded through council-approved water rates. There is no support from property taxes," said the city.

According to Alberta Health Services, "every $1 spent on community water fluoridation can save up to $93 per person in dental treatment costs."

AHS endorses water fluoridation "as a foundational public health measure to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health."

Calgary joins other Alberta municipalities such as Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge that have water fluoridation.

"The City of Calgary's highest priority is in delivering safe and reliable drinking water to citizens where we continue to meet or perform better than all drinking water regulations," said the city.